Bored kids are a recipe for post-holiday dinner disaster. This year, keep them occupied with some easy dinner table experiments to ensure your family has many stories to tell for years to come.

Experiment 1: “Floating Forks”

This physics trick explains the center of gravity with the use of typical dinnerware which will be easily available during holiday meals.

What You Need:

Two forks

Toothpick

Glass

Experiment:

Entwine the two forks.

Place toothpick in center.

Set the end of the toothpick on the edge of the glass.

Adjust until the forks balance on the edge.

Why Does This Happen?

An object’s center of gravity is the place where the mass of that object is concentrated. When you support an object at its exact center of gravity, equilibrium forces balance the object. Make sure to follow safety precautions with glass and the forks – as it may take a few attempts to get the balance just right.

Experiment 2: “Fishing for Ice”

Water, in all of its forms, teaches children important principles of chemistry and physics. Combined with the fun of “fishing,” and you have a fun experiment for all ages.

What You Need:

Cup of water

String

Ice

Salt

Experiment:

Put ice in the water.

Lay the string on top of the water.

Wait a few seconds and pull the string out.

What happens? (Nothing!)

Sprinkle salt in the water.

Lay the string on top of the water again.

Wait a few seconds and pull the string out again.

What happens? You can “fish” the ice cubes out with the string!

Why Does This Happen?

Adding salt on top of the ice lowers the freezing point of the ice and it begins to melt. There’s not enough salt in the glass to melt all of the ice, so the ice that began to melt will freeze again quickly, trapping the string inside.

Experiment 3: “Making Frost”

With this experiment, children see ice form before their eyes through the process of condensation.

What You Need:

Empty metal can with open top

Crushed ice

Salt

Water

Experiment:

Partially fill the can with crushed ice.

Fill the can about 3/4ths full of water and salt.

Watch the ice form.

Why Does This Happen?

As the salt changes the melting point of the ice inside the can, the temperature of the can begins to drop. When the temperature of the can reaches the freezing point, water vapor in the air outside of the can will condense on the sides. Since the temperature in the can is below freezing, the water vapor condensed on the outside forms frost.

Experiment 4: “Pop The Top”

This exciting experiment demonstrates the properties of thermal expansion.

What You Need:

Very cold water (ice water is even better)

Glass bottle with narrow opening (like a glass soda bottle)

Coin to fit over the mouth of the bottle (a quarter works well)

Experiment:

Submerge the coin and the bottle opening in the ice water for several minutes.

Remove and put the coin on the bottle opening.

Place hands on the bottleneck as well as on the body of the bottle.

In a few seconds the coin will jump.

Remove hands to make it stop.

Why Does This Happen?

When submerged, the air in the bottle became cold. The child’s hands raise the temperature of the air inside the bottle. Because of thermal expansion, the warmer air inside expands and needs to find a place to escape, pushing the coin out of the way. When the hands are removed, the temperature normalizes. You could also place the empty bottle outside in snow or in a freezer to chill it for the experiment.

These easy experiments are not only a great way to keep children occupied after your holiday meals, but they teach important science lessons. Check out What Matters For Kidsto find more seasonal experiments that are fun and educational for the whole family.